Detroit, Michigan (The Adobo Chronicles) – By virtue of a recent circuit court decision to reverse an earlier ruling by a federal judge striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage, Michigan remains among the 15 states in the U.S. that continue to deny the granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

But Michigan is a step closer to being the first U.S. state to issue licenses to discriminate.

The Michigan Republican-led House has approved a bill — the Religious Freedom Restoration Act — that would let individuals or businesses seek exemptions to government regulations they feel substantially burden their sincerely-held religious beliefs.

This means that gay men and women, Atheists, pro-choice individuals and others may be denied services on the basis of religious beliefs held by individuals and businesses.

In anticipation of the bill’s approval by the Republican-led state senate and subsequent signature by Republican Governor Rick Snyder, the Michigan State Attorney General’s Office has announced that it has started to print official licenses to discriminate. It will start issuing the licenses on January 2, 2015.

The licenses can be obtained upon payment of a $50 fee.  The licenses are valid for a period of 3 months, subject to renewal.

So if you’re planning to discriminate all year-round, be prepared to cough up $200 per year.